Calls for water cost inquiry

A FORMER director of the Maroochy Water Services board has called on the Federal Government to step in and instigate an inquiry into Unitywater pricing policies.

Coolum retiree Richard Koerner has already had a similar call rejected by the State Government and says he fears Coast ratepayers will be left with nowhere to turn if the feds do not become involved.

He believes an illegal rip-off of water users has been going on for years and only an independent inquiry can get to the bottom of the situation following weeks of turmoil over inflated and inaccurate Unitywater accounts.

But the Bligh Government, as the creator of Unitywater, would never undertake a proper inquiry, he said.

And the Federal Government did not appear to care and neither the state nor federal oppositions were interested, he said.

Mr Koerner has been an outspoken critic of the now defunct Maroochy Water Services, raising a string of allegations it overcharged residents for many years, recouping an estimated $20 million a year for water by “manipulating” the valuations of its water and sewerage assets.

He raised the matter while a member of the water board but hit brick walls at every turn.

In 2008, after six years of campaigning for changes, state Treasury informed him there was no evidence to suggest the water prices were inflated. Prior to that decision, Treasury officials had given Maroochy council 11 months to respond to its “recommendation” for a report, then accepted a further seven-month delay before being told the council would not comply.

Just two months ago, after again alleging “improper manipulation” of the written down value of Maroochy Water Services’ assets just prior to amalgamation with Sunshine Coast Water, Mr Koerner was told by the Queensland Competition Authority it would not conduct an independent audit of Unitywater’s stated asset value to test that retail water pricing was in line with National Competition Policy.

It is that sort of attitude and the State Government’s role in establishing Unitywater which Mr Koerner says makes it imperative the Federal Government finally becomes involved in the controversy.